Homemade Black Sweet Rice Wine

中文菜谱:

黑糯米甜酒酿

It is a very traditional and common for Chinese people to make sweet rice wine at home.  But it is not really the clear-colored high alcohol content version of “rice wine” you are thinking.  It is non-distilled, very sweet, and more dessert like.

The most common one is made with pure white sweet rice.  Sometime people add different ingredients to make variations too.  This time I add black sweet rice.  After fermentation, it becomes a gorgeous deep purple color.

Ingredients:

1 cup of sweet rice
1 cup of black sweet rice
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of rice wine starter/ yeast, finely ground
cold boiled water
more water for rice cooking

Directions：

Cook the sweet rice and black sweet rice separately.  I use Zojirushi Micom stainless steel 3 cups rice cooker

Sweet rice absorbs less water than regular white rice.  So use a little bit less water when cooking sweet rice.  And I use “quick” setting.

The reason I cook two kinds of sweet rice separately is that I want them to keep their own colors. 

Wait for two different rice to be cooked and cooled down; add them to a large bowl; and mix gently with a spatula. 

Sweet rice can be very sticky when cooled down.  That is where cold boiled water comes in. 

Rice wine starter/yeast is very popular and common in Asian countries.  You should be able to buy it from any Asian grocery stores.  They are usually sold in a small plastic package which contains two round rice yeast balls.  Smash and grind them into fine white powder before adding them to sweet rice.

Sprinkle sweet rice mixture with rice wine starter/ yeast powder.  Gently mix everything together again.  

Pat the rice flat, leaving a one-inch hole in the center.  The hole is totally operational.  You don’t have to do it.  It is just a lot easier to observe how much rice wine coming out the rice through that hole in the center.  

Cover with lid or plastic wrap.  Store it in warm dry place for 2 to 3 days. 

At the end of fermentation time, you can test if sweet rice wine is ready or not by its taste.  Sweetness is how we tell.  The sweeter, the better.  If you get blank taste, just put it back, wait for another day, and taste again.

Sweet rice wine can be served immediately when it is completely fermented, and yes, both liquid and the rice part.  My favorite way is to refrigerate it overnight and serve it cold. 

In my hometown, people used to make pickle vegetables with sweet rice wine in old times.  But fewer and fewer families are still doing so.  Vinegar is quicker and less labor intensive. 

Sweet rice wine can be served cold and hot.  Cooking it with sweet rice cake balls is another classic way to enjoy it. 

Bubble Milk Tea with Condensed Milk

中文菜谱：炼乳珍珠奶茶

Boba/ bubble milk tea is so widely popular in Asian countries that you can find hundreds of tea houses in big cities.  I notice that they are getting popular here in USA too.  More and more tea stores are opening and more cafes begin to serve milk tea too.

Ingredients：

250 ml water
8 to 12 g black tea leaves
60 ml milk
2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
black tapioca pearls (available in most Asian grocery stores)
1/4 teaspoon honey
ice cubes

Directions：

Boil the black tapioca pearls according to the directions on its package.

Rinse cooked black tapioca pearls under running water for 5 seconds.  Drain well.  Transfer to a tall glass. Add honey; mix well.

My friend sends me some good black tea which she brought back from China. 

In another small stainless steel pot, add water.  Cook over medium high heat until it reaches about 90C.  Add black tea leaves and let it soak for 5 minutes.  Do not cook water until it boils.  If the water boils, it is too hot for make good tea.  Just allow it to cook down a couple minutes before adding black tea. 

Drain the tea.  Discard tea leaves.  Measure 150 ml black tea.  Set the rest aside.

Add about 1 cup of ice cubes and sweetened condensed milk to a shaker

Add 150ml black tea along with milk

 If you prefer stronger tea flavor, use a little bit more tea.

Cover with lid.  Shake vigorously for a slow count of 20.

See the thick milk foams over the top?  That is why we call it bubble milk tea O(∩_∩)O~

Pour into the glass.  Now you have a beautiful glass of bubble milk tea. 

Sweetened condensed milk can also be substituted with syrup.  I personally prefer condensed milk for its rich flavor.

Mulled Wine

中文版：

圣诞热红酒

During the Christmas / New Year holiday season, I made several batches of mulled wine.  It is quite tasty and festive, perfect for a layback afternoon by the fireplace.

Most alcohol has evaporated during cooking process, so even people who don’t usually drink can also enjoy it. O(∩_∩)O~ 

The recipe is originally adapted from Ina Garten’s mulled wine from foodnetwork: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mulled-wine-recipe-1950801.  The original version requires more spices, a little too much for my taste.  So I do some minor changes according our preference.  Many thanks to Ina Garten! O(∩_∩)O~

Ingredients：

1/2 bottle red wine (I use merlot)
2 oranges
2 cups of apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons of honey
2 cloves

Directions：

Juice one orange and peel the other one.  Arrange orange peel in wine glasses for decoration and more flavors.

Add red wine, orange juice, apple cider, cinnamon, honey and cloves in a stainless steel pot.  Cook over medium high heat until it boils.  Reduce the heat to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

Divide the mulled wine between glasses with orange peels

Serve hot immediately

Mocha Coffee

中文：摩卡咖啡

A few years back, we had absolute no interest in coffee at all when we first came to America.  Until one day we accidentally ordered a cup of mocha coffee, I realized how delicious coffee could be and inevitably fell in love with it.  And before I know it, both my husband and I become enthusiastic fans of coffee who roast and grind our own beans and make gorgeous fresh espresso on a daily base.

I make mocha coffee at home from time to time.  The rich sweet chocolaty flavor from mocha is so smoothing and comforting.  And the whipped cream and caramel sauce on top will literally make anything look good enough to eat.

Ingredients： (1 serving)

2 tablespoons dark chocolate
1 to 2 teaspoons dark cocoa powder
2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 shorts (double shot) espresso
cup whole milk
chocolate sauce
caramel sauce
whipped cream

Directions：

In a small bowl, add dark chocolate, cocoa powder and heavy cream.  Heat in a double boiler or microwave and whisk until chocolate melts.  Transfer to a coffee cup/ mug.

Add freshly pumped double shot espresso coffee.  I am using Breville 870XL  which works great and love it much.

I don’t suggest substituting espresso with instant coffee here.  If you don’t have an espresso machine available, French pressor moka potcan make nice espresso too.

Use the espresso machine to steam the milk until it heats to 140F/60C or 150F/65C.  Add steamed milk to the coffee cup/mug too.

Top with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and caramel sauce.

Sprinkle with cocoa powder if you like

Ok, I love caramel sauce.  So I always treat myself with a little bit extra caramel sauce on top. O(∩_∩)O~

Milk Black Tea with Tapioca Pearl

中文：摩卡壶做珍珠奶茶

We all know moka pot  can be used to make good dark espresso coffee.  Not many people know you can make tea with it too!  I love making strong tea with moka pot and then use it for my milk black tea.  It is awesome and super easy!

Ingredients： (serves 1 to 2 people)

4 black tea bags
1 1/4 cup water
1 1/4 cup whole milk
3 to 4 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons honey
black tapioca pearl
simple syrup/ honey (optional)

Directions：

Black tapioca pearl  is an important ingredient in Asian milk tea.  It can be found in most Asian grocery stores or online. 

Cook the black tapioca pearl according to the cooking instruction on its package.  Drain well and soak the pearl in honey. Put aside for later use.

Mix whole milk and condensed milk.  Heat over medium low heat until the mixture almost boils.  Remove from heat.  Stir in simple syrup or honey if needed.

Add water to moka pot.  Empty all four tea bags to the pot.

Heat over medium heat.  It is exactly the same process as making coffee.

The tea starts to come out on top.

Smells good

Ok, now we have a small pot of gorgeous black tea.

Divide the tea into two cups along with cooked black tapioca pearl.

Add milk mixture

Stir everything together.  Serve immediately with large milkshake straws.